The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-12
READS LIKE A ROMANCE.
A North Carolina Murder Trial IN
Which Georgians Are Interested.


Which Georgians Are Interested.
From the Athens (Gd) Banner WGtchmdn
About year ago there was a sensation in
this section of the State over the appear ance
of an old man from North Carolina named
DR.. G. W. Ward, who came in quest of
grandson, whom he believed to have been
murdered by certain men who pursued him.
1t transpired to be most thrilling and in
teresting story, for which we are indebted
to Col D. W. Meadow, of Danielsville
Aaron Ingram was young man living in
Swain county, NC. In adifficulty he killed,
with a barlow knife, man named Sher-
man Welsh of the same county. Ingram
made good his escape, passing through Toe
Goa, Gainesville, Danielsville, Washington
and other points in this section of Georgia
The Sheriff of Swain county was also
named Welsh, and is cousin OF the man
killed by Ingram. Together with the Others
he started in quest of the murderer, the
posse tracking him like sleuth-hounds and,
following close upon his heels They also
passed through the towns we have
named, and were open in their
declaration that they would take In
gram, dead or alive. After going as
far as Augusta this squad returned, and on
reaching home publicly boosted that they
had put Ingram where the dogs would not
bite him, and used other expressions that
led the public to believe that they had not
only captured their man but killed him
and hid his body. Their boasts
came to the ears of DR.. G. w.
Ward, the grandfather of Ingram,
and nice old gentleman. He believed
Welsh's boast and in turn started on their
track He, too, took in these towns, and
stopped at each to make inquiries, but could
learn nothing until Augusta was reached,
and there he found in the swamps of the
Savannah river the body of a decapi-
tated human being with the head
missing. The flesh, however, was
dropping from the bones, so that he could
not Identify the remains, but returned home
with the firm belief that it was the body of
his grandson, who had been killed by his
pursuers and thus mutilated to conceal the
crime. He had no evidence to convict, but
before he left Georgia offered reward for
such testimony.
But as it afterward TRANSFERRED, this was
not young Migrants remains Near Athens,
Ga. he succeeded in throwing his pursuers
off the trail, and went to Rutledge, little
town on the Georgia road. From there he
kept getting further and further off, finally
located in the Indian Territory, where he
went to work as farm hand. He had such
dread of detection that he would not even
communicate with his family in North Car
DINA.
gram was working there also lived man
from Swain county who had alsolef home
for some crime. He recognized Ingram as
soon as he saw him, and to ingratiate him
self with a gang of COW boys, told them that
Ingram had murdered a man in North Car
DINA, had fed from Justice, that a reward
of 800 was offered for him. but he was
desperate man and would resist arrest to the
death He also informed the COW boys that
the reward would be paid for Migrants body
dead or alive.
The COWBOYS. armed to the teeth. rode
into the field where Ingram was blowing,
and, without warning, fired a volley into
him. His right arm was shattered and his
side wounded with buckshOt. The deSper-
ately wounded man was then sent back to
North Carolina in irons, and for two months
laid Mt deaths door in Jail. He finally re-
| covered, however,
In the meantime his grandfather, DR..
Ward, employed the best legal talent in the
State to defend him, engaging four lawyers
The other side employed similar number,
one of them being an ex-ludge from the
bench. In passing through Danielsville
DR. Ward was very much impressed with
d. w. Meadow, Esq, and after the cap
ture of his grandson, came to Georgia
and employed him at handsome fee to de-
| fend Ingram. This Mr.. Meadow did, stay
ing twelve days in Swain county. He did
| MS DeSI WORK lor MS CueHU, anu Wnen Une
case was heard made a speech that electri-
| fled the court house and brought upon this
brilliant young lawyer the applause
of the county. 1t was a desperate
case against Ingram, but Mr.. Meadow
succeeded in getting verdict
of manslaughter, and a sentence of seven
months in Jail. Ingram was the happiest
man in North Carolina on coming off so
| light Mr.. Meadow made such fine i'm
preston that he was at once engaged as
7 leading counsel in another big murder case,
to be tried in Swain county at next term of
court. 1t was grand leading triumph for
one of our most brilliant and popular young
lawyers.